Abbas on Reserved Seats and Traditional Institutions: A Blueprint for Inclusive Governance

Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has continuously supported creative legislative reforms that aim to promote inclusion, equity, and institutional relevance since taking office as Speaker of Nigeria’s 10th House of Representatives in June 2023.

His campaign for women’s reserved legislative seats and his determination to give traditional institutions constitutional duties are two noteworthy aspects of his legislative program.

Speaker Abbas’s commitment to establishing a representative, inclusive, and durable governance framework is demonstrated by these actions, which also demonstrate his profound understanding of Nigeria’s complicated sociopolitical realities.

The issue of Nigeria’s ongoing underrepresentation of women in elective office is directly addressed by Speaker Abbas’s support for reserved parliamentary seats for women. At the federal and state levels, women hold less than 10% of elective seats, although possibly making up more than half of the nation’s population.

Speaker Abbas has led and continues to lead discussions and push legislative proposals to create reserved seats for women in the National and States Houses of Assembly because he recognizes that this imbalance is both unfair and counterproductive, especially considering Nigeria’s enviable position at the bottom of Africa’s reference ladder.

This endeavor is reflected in the proposed “Reserved Seats for Women Bill,” which aims to ensure gender parity, a minimum level of female participation in governance, and a more inclusive and fair legislative process.

To paraphrase the Speaker’s own remarks at several national and international forums on the topic, this endeavor has numerous advantages.

The Speaker claims that in addition to giving women more political clout, reserved seats would also allow for a wider range of viewpoints to be included in policy discussions, particularly when it comes to topics like gender-based violence, healthcare, education, and social protection.

He has unquestionably made the case that democracy would be strengthened and governance would become more sensitive to the demands of all citizens if women’s opinions were given more weight in national legislative chambers.

In order to mobilize support for this revolutionary reform, Speaker Abbas has worked and is still working with international development partners, gender advocacy organizations, and civil society organizations.

Speaker Abbas urged his male legislative colleagues in the National and State Assemblies to support the “Reserved Seats for Women Bill” just on Wednesday at the inauguration of a steering committee on the bill in Abuja. He did this by citing their higher ideals, saying that “our sons will gauge our courage in the face of necessity that calls for decisive actions, and our daughters will read, listen, and watch our debates.”

The overarching goals of these bills, according to Speaker Abbas, are “to build a bridge, not a barrier, we are opening an avenue, not closing a door.” “No sitting Member loses a seat,” he reiterated. No state gives up its current representation. We’re growing, not shrinking. Instead of subtracting, we are adding.

“This is crucial for my male colleagues,” he added. Your mandate is still in effect. Your constituency is still there. We want statesmanship, not sacrifice; we want solidarity, not submission.

Roles for Traditional Institutions: Speaker Abbas’s determination to see that traditional institutions are given constitutional roles—a long-overdue acknowledgement of the significance and power of traditional rulers in Nigeria’s governance environment—is equally visionary.

Traditional institutions have been essential to grassroots growth, community mobilization, cultural preservation, and dispute resolution for generations.

In contrast to what was previously achieved in all pre-independence constitutions until 1963, they now function outside of the official constitutional framework, which limits their influence and potential contribution to national progress.

According to Speaker Abbas, including traditional leaders within the constitutional framework will enhance local government, promote social cohesion, and support initiatives in fields like civic education, security, and mediation.

In order to clearly define the advisory, developmental, and moral oversight roles that traditional leaders can play in the Nigerian state of the twenty-first century, the House of Representatives has engaged in high-level discussions with leaders of traditional institutions and is currently reviewing constitutional amendments under his direction.

Speaker Abbas recently held a legislative roundtable discussion on the inclusion of the roles of traditional institutions in the ongoing alteration to the country’s constitution. He revealed that the 10th National Assembly seeks to create a three-tier traditional institutions that cut across all political spectrums, demonstrating his conviction that comes from his royal background and his desire for a more balanced social order where certain responsibilities are legally entrusted to the traditional rulers.

He stated: “Proposals to give traditional organizations some constitutional recognition are being actively considered by the 10th National Assembly. In the process, they are proposing the following three-tiered Traditional Council structure:

“A National Council of Traditional Rulers should be established; it will serve as the highest authority to counsel the President on matters pertaining to cultural affairs, national security, and unity.

Read Also: Sanusi Explains Reason Behind His Return to Aero Contractors

In terms of customary law, peacebuilding, and development, the State Council of Chiefs will be the second layer, recognized by state governments under the constitution.

“The Local Government Traditional Council will then formally interact with local governments, particularly in the areas of community development, peacekeeping, and security,” he stated.

In addition to his legislative posture, Speaker Abbas’s attempts to coordinate social advancement and prestige for established institutions are grounded in real-world pledges and deeds that support them.

He has invested a great deal of money to buy and deliver tens of brand-new, cutting-edge sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to traditional leaders in each of the nation’s six geographical zones.

In the same way that he has drawn Federal Government projects to a sizable number of kingdoms and domains to improve the development needs of Nigerians living outside of his own constituency, he has also been very consistent in providing them with parliatives during important times, such as holidays. This has drawn numerous traditional titles to him and is still going strong.

The constitutional recognition of traditional institutions and female inclusion through reserved seats are two measures that reflect a larger legislative ideology that prioritizes institutional coherence, inclusive governance, and cultural relevance.

Speaker Abbas is attempting to close the gap between Nigeria’s sociocultural reality and its contemporary political system by advocating for these reforms.

His leadership is based on pragmatism, equity, and foresight. His dual advocacy for more female political representation and traditional authorities’ constitutional inclusion demonstrates a strong commitment to a Nigeria where all racial and ethnic groups have a say in how the country is run.

If successful, these initiatives will surely promote sustainable national growth and bolster Nigeria’s democracy.